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The Daily OrangeThe great divide
Student Democratic groups struggle to find common ground
By Anna Kuchinsky
Posted: 10/28/08, 1:51 AM EST Section: News
With the fast approach of the upcoming election, the College Democrats of Syracuse University is turning its attention to something a bit more local: the race for the 25th Congressional District.
"We focus more on getting Democrats elected to congressional seats," said Kathryn Guess, events coordinator for SU's College Democrats. "We're not so much focused on Obama."
As Democrats hope to take back the White House after eight years, members of the College Democrats are not focusing their efforts on the presidential campaign.
Instead, Syracuse Students for Barack Obama, an independent group, is leading the presidential effort, and the separation is not entirely agreeable.
"We've had a lot of problems," said Sara Brainard, deputy director of Students for Barack Obama. "There's a lot of conflict because we're (affiliated) with Obama's national campaign. We were selected by the campaign to run the show here at Syracuse, but College Democrats has been around forever. They feel like we're on their territory."
Guess admitted to the division between the groups, but said it was because Obama will almost certainly win New York state.
"Currently, we're working on getting Dan Maffei elected because it's a closer call," Guess said of efforts to elect the Democratic congressional candidate. "New York is kind of a given state for Obama."
Though New York state often votes democratic in the presidential election, the two groups are not heavily collaborating their efforts.
Not only are the groups run by different individuals, but there has not been much cooperation either, Brainard said.
On the other hand, campus Republican efforts are more unified, said Nicholas Johnson, president of College Republicans.
Johnson also heads the campaign for Sen. John McCain at SU. Johnson said the College Republicans will be handing out flyers and going door to door for both McCain and Republican congressional candidate Dale Sweetland, Maffei's opponent.
"We focus more on getting Democrats elected to congressional seats," said Kathryn Guess, events coordinator for SU's College Democrats. "We're not so much focused on Obama."
As Democrats hope to take back the White House after eight years, members of the College Democrats are not focusing their efforts on the presidential campaign.
Instead, Syracuse Students for Barack Obama, an independent group, is leading the presidential effort, and the separation is not entirely agreeable.
"We've had a lot of problems," said Sara Brainard, deputy director of Students for Barack Obama. "There's a lot of conflict because we're (affiliated) with Obama's national campaign. We were selected by the campaign to run the show here at Syracuse, but College Democrats has been around forever. They feel like we're on their territory."
Guess admitted to the division between the groups, but said it was because Obama will almost certainly win New York state.
"Currently, we're working on getting Dan Maffei elected because it's a closer call," Guess said of efforts to elect the Democratic congressional candidate. "New York is kind of a given state for Obama."
Though New York state often votes democratic in the presidential election, the two groups are not heavily collaborating their efforts.
Not only are the groups run by different individuals, but there has not been much cooperation either, Brainard said.
On the other hand, campus Republican efforts are more unified, said Nicholas Johnson, president of College Republicans.
Johnson also heads the campaign for Sen. John McCain at SU. Johnson said the College Republicans will be handing out flyers and going door to door for both McCain and Republican congressional candidate Dale Sweetland, Maffei's opponent.
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